Proposed Arizona photo radar ban defeated

For the second time this week, the Arizona Senate on Tuesday defeated a proposal that would have asked voters to prohibit the state and its cities and towns from using photo enforcement systems. From Phoenix, KJZZ’s Mark Brodie reports.

MARK BRODIE: The senate first rejected the proposal on Monday. It would have asked voters to stop government from using cameras to catch speeders or red light runners. The measure’s sponsor offered to allow cities and towns to opt out of the ban, if their voters agreed. But that wasn’t enough to convince some critics. Mesa Republican Jerry Lewis says law enforcement officials in his district want to keep their options open.

JERRY LEWIS: They want to be able to have this control in their own cities, and I have a hard time as the state imposing on them something that is contrary to their wishes.

BRODIE: Some critics also worry that getting rid of photo radar would make roads less safe. But supporters of the ban, like Peoria Republican Rick Murphy, say most of the people who get nabbed are those who miss a traffic light by a split second. Murphy says what he calls technical violations do not make the roads more dangerous, but that photo radar supporters rely on them.

RICK MURPHY: They will never be in favor of stopping the violations and penalties for those technical violators because the program is not financially viable without them.

BRODIE: The Senate’s vote Tuesday was 14 in favor and 15 against -- similar to the initial vote on Monday.

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